Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Organic Rose Propagating

I hate rooting hormones. They are strong and can be harsh on other plants in the area. Most perennials root from cuttings very easily. Many will root over the kitchen sink in a vase of water or just by placing them in a flower bed where you want it and keep it moist. Many vegatables can be grown from the parts that are left over from dinner. Roses are stubborn. They are heavy feeders and need an extra boost to get the cuttings to root.

I have cut many roses and found that the best hormone free way is to use a potato. I prefer little red potatoes since they are a little softer. I will let them sit around for a while till they become a little over ripe. This will make them even softer. They are nice and juicy to keep the rose cutting moist. Here is what you will need to propagate a rose from a cutting organically:
~ over ripe red potato for each cutting you have
~ a fresh cutting of at least 4 inches
~ lime (not the fruit)
~ rich soil
~ screwdriver
~ water

I start with my potato and screwdriver. In the center of the potato, I take the screwdriver and make a hole halfway through the potato. Then I work the edges of the hole until it is about the width of the cutting of the rose stem I have. Do not forget to clip your rose cutting at a 45 degree angle on the end that you will place into the potato. Once the hole is the right size, place the cutting into the potato.

I dig a hole around three to four inches deep to place the potato and cutting into. I do no use a deep hole because I only try rooting roses in the spring and summer while the original rose bush is active. I throw in a few pieces of lime as a fertilizer on top of the potato before I cover it with dirt. I water it well. Cover it with dirt and water it again. I water deeply every day until new growth is seen.

It is that easy and fast to start a new rose bush, plus it is hormone free finally!

Our family has grown potatoes and eats them with every meal form before the day I was born. I guess it started with my grandpa. My husbands grandma did the same with her roses and azelas. I will be posting different things all through the summer as I start rooting them!